Our Sustainability Champions Discussion Group focuses on how you inspire, engage and empower staff and volunteers to take collective and impactful action to implement environmental sustainability within an organisation.  A great opportunity to support and link up with other members, developing collaboration and sharing opportunities in this increasingly significant area. 
 
A key theme that has emerged from our previous groups is the topic of well-being, particularly how organisations are approaching the ever-increasing challenge of “climate anxiety”.  At our next session this group will continue to focus on this topic, allowing members to share questions, ideas, approaches and resources in this key area. 
 
Fit for the Future member Elisa Ronchi-McGlade (Wellbeing Champion and Co-chair for Eco Group at Macmillan) will start the discussion by providing an overview of her experience and work in this area. 
 
As a Wellbeing Champion for nearly 8 years, I am an advocate for good mental health and safeguarding one’s welfare.  I’ve always been interested in the environment but ever since becoming a mother, I have become passionate about educating myself and advocating on ways to protect climate and nature, to create a safer, healthier and more sustainable planet for future generations. 
 
With a background working in the NHS and then Macmillan, I have been exposed to the link between health and the climate crisis, which spurred me to join the Eco Group at Macmillan and become a Co-Chair in early 2024. This has opened my eyes to the links between mental health and climate anxiety and the importance of safeguarding myself and encouraging others to do the same, by focusing on ‘pockets of goodness’. 
 
I am by no means a subject matter expert… but I would like to share my journey with you all, to navigate what has helped me and what I have discovered along the way, in the hopes that this will help you feel less isolated with the challenges around climate anxiety and climate change. “ 
 
All members are welcome to attend, regardless of previous experience or knowledge on this topic.  The discussion group will be of benefit to all network members, whatever your size and scope of operations/activity.  From organisations just starting off to those already delivering Green/Sustainability champion initiatives there will be lots to share and collaborate on, from identifying collective challenges to learning from other approaches.